Omaha daily bee., 1887-02-27

side by side with anybody who pays. In
the street. if it walks, society is muflled.
has on its hats and high bonnets; ut the
theatre or Delmonico's, though it shares
the amusements of the questionable,
and sometimes sits on the same benches
with them, 1t IS passive; amused, not
amusing; at church, if 1t prays by the
side of sinners of another set, it is, of
course, in separate pews, just as it listens
(or laughs) at the opera in exclusive
boxes. But at ball you must seem to be
a part of the crowd; you move among
the others; you can't be told from them
except by the initiated. Yet even this
sacrifice society once made to charity.
Now it takes tickets, and if 1T attends the
ball. it only looks on from the grand tier.
1t is true IA few fall into the march at
the opening; that one may do, and not
lose caste And how odd il seems! A
quarter of century ago some of the
same people were doing the same thing
&C the academy of music that they now
do at the Metropolitan. | could tell you
their names! But there are more
ToUPEEs AND BALD HEADS
in the procession today; or, perhaps it is
other heads: those that were grey or bald
then have disappeared altogether, fear.
The chaperones OF those times have gone
to their last ball, the social queens have
entered a kingdom not of this world The
most frolicsome bellies before the war"
are the dowagers of 1887; it is the dan
cling men that knew who sit in the boxes
and look down; perhaps they have good
reason.
When think of the other changes still;
when see the crowds of people who have
not only grown up or grown old, but have
come in and jostled aside those who were
once so important when remember, not
and the beaux that are bald,
but the fortunes that have been
spent the names that have been forgot
ten though their owners are still alive;
when see some who were once socially
powerful, now humble and obscure; peo.
pie who lorded it over society and
refused admission to their parties to
to accept; charitable courtesies which
they can return only by their presence,
which still confers distinction.
l say again. The fashion of
this world passseth away. Look at
the list of the patrons and patron.
esses of the charity ball-a long scroll of
half known names by the side of few of
social distinction. Many were not on
that list only five years ago; they We're
allowed to buy places with dozen
tickets. In five years more they will
copsii,,,cr whether they care to be on the
list at all; ana III z decade they will be
sought after; 1t will be rney who confer
distinction. In twenty-five years y1""
can become of 'old family" in New
York. If your father and mother were
in society, your aristocracy is incontest-
able.
Twenty-Five years ago the charity ball
was an event. There We're no assem-
hlips no A'natriarphs' pr 'ma triarphsi'
then nobody dreamed of dancing at Del
monico's; there We're no other opportunity
for so fine floor or so large an assem-
blage, and nearly everybody went, be-
cause it was the only chance in the year
OF seeing so many OF the fashionable
world together at once. OF course there
was no more beauty then than now;
there was no smarter gowns; and, OF
course, what one sees in ones youth has
glamor that lasts across a generation;
there is always halo when you look
back. But for all this insist there was
dstiction about New York fashion that
has not entirely remained. There were
more men OF importance 10 be seen.
Now the really
IMPORTANT MEN OF NEW YORK
are not in society. Society" is COM
posed, not of people whom society wants.
but OF people who want to be in society
There is innnitelp more wealth and dis
play, and infinitely less that attracts cul-
tivated and refined men and women.
These are thrust aside by the throng, or
frightened by the lmpossibihty OF keep
lngup with the show, or disgusted with
the success of vulgar ostentations; or
they find SO little 10 interest their tastes
or'reward their eXertions that they keep
aioof, anu society Is not good companyi